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Keith Henry Joins Football Staff as Defensive Coordinator

Catawba Head Football Coach Curtis Walker has announced the addition of Keith Henry to the staff. Henry as been tabbed as the new defensive coordinator and will also coach the linebackers.

Henry returns to his alma mater after spending 11 years as an assistant at Wake Forest. During his tenure with the Demon Deacons, Henry coached outside linebackers, defense ends and the defense backs. He was also the special teams coordinator in 2011.

Henry was an assistant coach at Ohio University for six seasons before moving to Wake Forest. He also coached at North Carolina A & T, Charleston Southern, Gardner-Webb and Bandys High School, where he started his career after graduating from Catawba. Henry also served as baseball coach while he was at N.C. A&T, garnering MEAC Coach of the Year honors after guiding the Aggies to the tournament title in 1994.

During his playing career, Henry was a three-time All-America safety for Catawba and a four-time All-South Atlantic Conference selection. He set a then school-record with 398 career tackles and still shares the school mark with 20 interceptions.

Henry, a prep standout at Maiden High School, etched his name in Catawba’s football lore with one of the school’s most memorable moments. Against Carson-Newman in 1987, he blocked a first-quarter punt for a safety that stood up as the only points in a 2-0 win.

Henry graduated from Catawba in 1989 with a degree in physical education. He earned a master’s degree in athletic administration from North Carolina A & T in 1995.

After graduating from Catawba, Henry played two years professionally in the Arena Football League. He spent one season with the Albany Firebirds and a year with the Charlotte Rage.

In April of 2000, Henry was inducted in the Catawba College Sports Hall of Fame. The next year was elected to the South Atlantic Conference Hall of Fame.

Henry, who was born in Newton, NC, is a native of Maiden, NC. He and his wife, Nicole, have four children – Kristie (25), K.J.(14), Maya Ordee (11) and Isaiah (7). They also have two grandsons, Makhi and Malik.